, 1887-10-01

Of my views, he states, that the price of corn
etc. is at the present moment loyer in Ger
many than it was a few years ago, accusing
the Government policy Sc also here the cause
of the evil. We have, as said above, not
the original writing, but only an extract
before us, but this extract is sufficient to
show US the authors meaning and his GER
tainly ingenious: course of reasoning. Z would.
here also observe, that, although the use he
makes of the facts he produces, is apparently
In opposition to my employment of the same,
it does not follow, that the conclusion must
be wrong either on the one side or the other.
the one refers to the immediate effect, the
other has in view the ultimate effect ensuing
from the same cause.
Mr.. Wilbrandt complains In very strong
terms of the protective Government policy
on goods imported on the frontiers of Germa.
ny just as other German writers mentioned
earlier by me had complained of that same
protective policy exercised on goods exported
beyond the frontiers. In like manner as the
last mentioned system had been the cause of
an unnaturally excited over. production, that
now threatens thousands with ruin, in like
manner the same system of protection, but
IN opposite direction, has In his opinion had
the effect Of u~nnaturally producing a lower.
ing of the price of corn etc. that is the very
contrary of what had been intended, and of
making the position of the agriculturist
worse, instead of better, than it was before.
Whether his views are right or not, is only
of indirect interest for us; it is the affair Of
the German economists and politicians to set.
tie that between them, but the facts, upon
which his conclusions are based, can serve to
clear our views on the future of the whole
sugar question, 80 much more as he enters
also expressly into details concerning the
present state of the German sugar industry,
details, which show clearly, how intensely
that industry and other interests connected
with it are affected by that over-production,
from the effects Of which we also are suffering.
III speaking of the over-production Of
sugar, "here," he says, the lessening of the
production (Which he considers Inevitably
must extend its reaction on the numerous
class of labourers occupied in the production;
on all the persons employed in the factories,
on the many husbandmen, who for q fixed
payment carry their roots from the field to
thu works or the railroad station; on the
whole industry of making artificial manures
on all the manufacturers Of machinery; on
the manufacturers Of jute, who will no long
or find sale for their bags; OH many other
producers of articles appertaining to the
making Of sugar; on parties engaged in trade;
on the coal miners subject to lose a valuable
purchaser; on certain railroads, of which the
principal revenue comes from the carrying
of the product, and so on"
The results OF the over-production and the
policy, which in q great measure had been
the cause of it, might partly at least have
been f%oreseen, if the passion for lucre had
not, as is SO often the case, blinded the pur>
suers of it. Warning voices tried to make
themselves heard in 1888, but whether they
were listened to or not, they came at all events
too late, and in 1884 the bubble, as WI all
know, burst.
It is not SO easy, to understand, without
explanation, how the laying an appreciable
duty on corn introduced into the country
could have the effect of lowering the price
paid for the corn produced in the country
itself. One should think, it must have the
very contrary effect.
ITO be c0ntinued.)